Franklin Biggs

Biggs studied classical guitar at the California Institute of the Arts and earned his bachelor's in political science and international relations at the University of California in Berkeley. While there, he worked at the faculty club, and was promoted to manager before moving to Paris. He got a job as a translator at the Ecole de Cuisine La Verenne there and interned at the restaurant Taillevent. He also worked at Maxim's and Patisserie Jean Millet in Paris and traveled around Europe. Back in the United States, he returned to the UC Berkeley faculty club as head chef, then worked as an executive chef at several resorts including The Lodge at Pebble Beach, the Claremont Hotel in Berkeley, the Silver Lake Lodge at Deer Valley Ski Resort in Utah, and the Buttes Resort in Tempe, Arizona.

Biggs followed his then-wife Susan to Birmingham in 1995 when she was hired by UAB. He took a job at Arman's in English Village. A year later he opened Jimmy's at Brookwood Village. He opened Homewood Gourmet in July 1997. He sold the business after thirteen years while he underwent treatment for throat cancer discovered in January 2010. In October of that year the cancer was found to be in remission.

In December 2010, Biggs and several partners opened Pianeta 3, a gourmet pizzeria. Biggs left the partnership in February 2011. He was also active in the planning of the Pepper Place Saturday Market and remains on its board of directors.